Пригоди Шерлока Холмса

           Abovethewoodswhichlinedituponthefarthersidewecouldseethered,juttingpinnacleswhichmarkedthesiteoftherichlandowner’sdwelling. OntheHatherleysideofthepoolthewoodsgrewverythick,andtherewasanarrowbeltofsoddengrasstwentypacesacrossbetweentheedgeofthetreeslandthereedswhichlinedthelake. Lestradeshowedustheexactspotatwhichthebodyhadbeenfound,and,indeed,somoistwastheground,thatIcouldplainlyseethetraceswhichhadbeenleftbythefallofthestrickenman. ToHolmes,asIcouldseebyhiseagerfaceandpeeringeyes,verymanyotherthingsweretobereaduponthetrampledgrass. Heranround,likeadogwhoispickingupascent,andthenturneduponmycompanion. 

           "Whatdidyougointothepoolfor?"heasked. 

           "Ifishedaboutwitharake. Ithoughttheremightbesomeweaponorothertrace. Buthowonearth—" 

           "Oh,tut,tut!Ihavenotime! Thatleftfootofyourswithitsinwardtwistisallovertheplace. Amolecouldtraceit,andthereitvanishesamongthereeds. Oh,howsimpleitwouldallhavebeenhadIbeenherebeforetheycamelikeaherdofbuffaloandwallowedalloverit. Hereiswherethepartywiththelodge-keepercame,andtheyhavecoveredalltracksforsixoreightfeetroundthebody. Butherearethreeseparatetracksofthesamefeet." Hedrewoutalensandlaydownuponhiswaterprooftohaveabetterview,talkingallthetimerathertohimselfthantous. "TheseareyoungMcCarthy’sfeet. Twicehewaswalking,andonceheranswiftly,sothatthesolesaredeeplymarkedandtheheelshardlyvisible. Thatbearsouthisstory. Heranwhenhesawhisfatherontheground. Thenherearethefather’sfeetashepacedupanddown. Whatisthis,then? Itisthebutt-endofthegunasthesonstoodlistening.